Ivory Coast referendum sparks controversy

Ivory Coast is headed for a constitutional referendum in October. President Alassane Ouattara backs the initiative, which would create a senate and a new post of deputy president, but the opposition does not share his enthusiasm. One of the main reasons to reform the current constitution, Ouattara has said, is to remove a contentious article […]

Ivory Coast is headed for a constitutional referendum in October. President Alassane Ouattara backs the initiative, which would create a senate and a new post of deputy president, but the opposition does not share his enthusiasm.
One of the main reasons to reform the current constitution, Ouattara has said, is to remove a contentious article on nationality that played a role in years of civil war.
Ouattara’s political opponents used the article on nationality to block him from several presidential elections in the past, claiming his parents were not born in Ivory Coast, and he was thus not eligible.
The U.S.-trained economist was elected head of state in 2010 and took office the following year, after months of unrest involving supporters of his predecessor as president, Laurent Gbagbo.